Opioid Awareness Meeting: The Dangers of Fentanyl in Our Community
Substance abuse and related behavioral health problems can have a major impact on students, families, and communities. These impacts have become even more serious because of the increasing prevalence of fentanyl in drugs and other substances. Fentanyl is an incredibly powerful and dangerous opioid. Small amounts of fentanyl can easily lead to life-threatening overdoses. In 2021, fentanyl was identified in 77.14% of U.S. adolescent overdose deaths.
There is nothing more important to us than the safety and wellbeing of our students, families, and communities.
FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to join her for a community meeting on opioid awareness, Monday, March 13, 6:30-8 p.m., at Fairfax High School.
Dr. Reid will be joined by Chief Kevin Davis of the Fairfax County Police Department in welcoming the community to engage in this important conversation. Major Thea Pirnat of the Fairfax County Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau will share information about drug trends in Fairfax County.
The Overdose Prevention Initiative: Outreach on Invisible Dangers, led by the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Virginia in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, will present testimonials from individuals affected by the opioid epidemic, medical experts, and law enforcement representatives.
Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions about how Fairfax County agencies are working together to address these opioid issues in our community.
Watch the video and learn more on our website. Register for the March 13 event.
It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Our elementary schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events—including orientation—in the spring during March or April. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps schools prepare, and ensure they have the teachers and resources they need on the first day of school.
After determining which school your child will attend, families should prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms. FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. Access registration forms and get support in other languages by visiting the kindergarten registration webpage.
School-Aged Child Care Registration Begins March 9
Registration for Fairfax County’s School Aged Child Care (SACC) program—which offers before- and after-school care for children attending kindergarten through grade 6—will begin Wednesday, March 9. Enrollment dates are set alphabetically by the elementary school your student will attend. Visit the SACC website for more information.
Medicaid Policy Changes
A change in federal Medicaid policy could impact the health care coverage of millions of students. In order to avoid gaps in coverage, families need to know:
- Families, especially those who have moved residences during the pandemic, should contact their state Medicaid offices to ensure their contact information is up to date.
- Families should watch their mail for letters about Medicaid and the state Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, status.
- Recipients must submit any renewal forms they receive to maintain coverage, which states could mail at any point between March 2023 and February 2024.
- Families who no longer qualify for Medicaid after the review may qualify for coverage through their state’s health insurance exchange.
Learn more in this EducationWeek article.
Upcoming Webinars for Parents
FCPS’ Parent Resource Center (PRC) is dedicated to helping adults support the success of all students. Upcoming PRC webinars include:
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Unlocking the Mysteries of Sleep and the Developing Brain: Tuesday, March 14, and Tuesday, March 28, at 10 a.m. Presented by experts at the National Institute of Mental Health, this two-part webinar will provide an overview of the sleep and wake cycle, illustrate the consequences of insufficient sleep, and other information.
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Manejando el estrés serie de 3 partes: Friday, March 17, at 10 a.m. Este seminario web les ofrecerá a los padres consejos sobre cómo reparar la relación con su hijo, apoyarle en momentos de estrés y fomentar la resiliencia.
Click on the titles above to register.
Apply Now! Tutors Needed
FCPS is recruiting qualified tutors to provide in-person academic support to small groups of students. These new FCPS tutors will be paid an hourly rate of $47.17. The position is flexible, and the number of hours worked and location will be based on the tutor’s availability and qualifications, as well as the needs presented throughout FCPS. Apply now! Contact tutor@fcps.edu for more information.
Tutors hired through this program will be strategically placed across the region where there is the most need for in-person tutoring to benefit students.
Note: Current FCPS staff can only apply to tutor outside of their contracted hours.
Tutor.com Is Still Available; Free for All FCPS Students
Online tutoring through Tutor.com is available to ALL FCPS students as a resource for both support and enrichment. Tutor.com remains available to all FCPS students at no cost. Find out more about Tutor.com.
Calendar Reminders: Daylight Saving Time
Sunday, March 12, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour!
As a result of the time change, many students will be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark. Help your child stay safe by having them wear reflective clothing and bright or light colors, or add reflective items to their backpacks or clothes. Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run into the street or cross between parked cars.
National School Social Work Week
March 5-10 is National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral factors from affecting a student's ability to perform at their best. Social workers are assigned to every school and center in the school system. Most social workers serve one to two sites. Thank you, school social workers! Learn more about the role of social workers in FCPS.
Ramadan
This year, the first day of Ramadan is Wednesday, March 22. Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year, a time for spiritual discipline for Muslims, who believe it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Quran to Mohammed. Read more about Ramadan in National Geographic Kids.
Ramadan begins with a half “O Day” on March 22, followed by an O Day on March 23. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days. Half-O days are full school days, but important events will not be held after school on those days. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
Review Draft Goals for the New Strategic Plan
Please take a moment to share your perspectives on the draft work-to-date related to the development of FCPS’ new Strategic Plan. Your input is important to this work that will help ensure a thriving future for each and every FCPS student.
Parents and caregivers of current FCPS students, please check your email for a message from FCPS dated Monday, March 6. For community members who do not currently have a student enrolled in FCPS, please use this link to participate.
The survey is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Urdu, and Vietnamese. All responses are anonymous and confidential. Information from the survey will be shared with and analyzed by Performance Fact, Inc. (PFI), the company FCPS hired to help create our Strategic Plan. Visit our Strategic Planning webpage for more details.
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